SEATTLE, July 18, 2011--William E. Boeing, Jr., the son of Boeing Aircraft Company's founder, was a featured speaker at The Museum of Flight's July 16th "Heroes of the Homefront" celebration of the B-17 bomber and the 95th anniversary of Boeing Aircraft Company. Boeing was joined by Museum President and CEO Doug King, and Boeing Aircraft's senior vice president for Commercial Aviation Services Lou Mancini during a brief public ceremony honoring the iconic aircraft corporation's 95th anniversary - the company was founded in Seattle on July 15, 1916. The ceremony was held in the Museum's lobby, with the original Boeing Aircraft factory, known as The Red Barn, serving as a backdrop.

The Heroes of the Homefront celebration included tours of the Museum's B-17 Flying Fortress, fly-bys and static displays of World War II aircraft from the Heritage Flight Foundation, World War II service reenactors with exhibits of vintage military equipment, special lectures about life at home and at the front during the war, and swing dancing lessons. The festivities were capped with an evening swing dance with big band music by The Harry James Orchestra with Fred Radke. Museum officials say the events vastly exceeded their expectations in attendance.

Photo: William E. Boeing, Jr. addresses audience at The Museum of Flight Heroes of the Homefront Celebration of the B-17 and the 95th Anniversary of Boeing Aircraft Company, July 16. Credit: Ted Huetter/The Museum of Flight.

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The non-profit Museum of Flight is one of the largest independent air and space museums in the world. The Museum's collection includes more than 150 historically significant air- and spacecraft, as well as the William E. Boeing Red Barn® -- the original manufacturing facility of the Boeing Co. The Airpark includes outdoor displays with the first jet Air Force One, a Concorde airliner, and the first Boeing 747 jumbo jet. The Museum aeronautical library and archival holdings are the largest on the West Coast. The Education Office offers weekend family programs, programs for students and educators, and overnight camps for children. McCormick & Schmick's Wings Café is on site.

The Museum of Flight is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, Exit 158 off Interstate 5 on Boeing Field half-way between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $16 for adults, $14 for seniors 65 and older, $13 for active military, $9 for youth 5 to 17, and free for children under 5. Group rates are available. Admission on the first Thursday of the month is free from 5 to 9 p.m. courtesy of Wells Fargo. For general Museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visit